Improvement in egg-crates



J. L'. STEVENS. Egg-Crate.

No. y218,592. Patented Aug.12,1879.

ATTEST; INVENTOR.

@ jam XS/evenf 1MM /mw UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN L. STEVENS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD'L. MUELLER, OF SAME PLAGE.

IMPROVEMENT IN EGG-CRATES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 218,592, dated August 12, 1879 application filed July 14, 1879.

To all whom t may concern:

Be itlrnown that I, JOHN L. STEVENS, of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented an 1mproved Egg-Carrier, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvment in the class of crates or carriers used for storing, transporting, and shipping of eggs, fruit, bottles, &c.

The frequent insertion of the crates into and out of the box, and otherwise the general handling which each crate is subjected to, renders it important that the corners of the crate shall possess as stift' or strong. an edge as possible; also, that there shall be a rm locking of the corners of the outside strips to avoid the tearing of the slits or loosening of said corners, and consequent coming apart of the ent-ire series of strips that compose the crate.

To achieve the yobjects stated, my invention consists, essentially, in a rightangled slit which I form in each of the four outside strips, to join, fasten, or lock with two farther end slits at the fourfcorners of the crate, and as now will more fully appear.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my egg-crate, the box being broken open to show the interior structure. Figs. 2 and 3 are views of the respective inside and outside strips, detached, of which the crate is composed.

A represents a box or carrier containing two sets of my improved crates, A1 A2, in the nests ot' which the articles are placed, protected, and packed.

The inside strips, B, are all made similar to the detached one shown in Fig. B--that is, each strip B (of which any number can be used to suit the size of the crate) has the respective slits b b b b cut as shown in Fig. 3. So made, these strips B are joined to each other crosswise or at right angle, their upper and lower edges being level and as indicated in Fig. l. Owing to the cut of the slits b b being from the lower edge upward, and that of the slits b b from the upper edge downward, the strips B, when interlaced, are held fast, so that the crate can be handled Without pulling apart any of the strips.

There are but four (4) of the outside strips, C, used for each square crate. These outside strips are cut to have the slits at c c, the end slits cl cl, and the right-angle slit c?, as shown in Fig. 2. The ends of each inside strip by their slits b b engage and unite with the central slits, c c, of each outside strip.

My improvement, however, consists, as stated, in the manner in which the corners of each of the four outside strips, O, are joined to each other. The right-angle slit of each outside strip joins with the two end slits, c cl, of the adjoining outside strip. By turning the flap c3 of the 011e strip partly to one side, one of the slits cl of the other strip can enter the right-angle slit until both edges of both the strips are flush or even; then the edge c4 can enter the remaining slit c, and the edges brought in line will show the corners locked, as indicated in Fig. 1. Each corner is in the same way united.

The advantages claimed are that the projecting edges of the strips at each corner are stiffer, stronger, more firmly interlaced, cannot become self-disengaged, and renders the crate more serviceable and durable.

1. The combination of two or more strips, C, each having the respective end slits, c1 c1, and right-angle slit c2, forming the joint at the corners, in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of aseries of inside strips, B,eaeh having the slitsbbb b', and the outside strips, C, each having the slits cl c1 and rightangle slit c2, all said strips being interlaced and joined at the corners, forming the improved crate, substantially as herein. set forth.

In testimony of said invention I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN L. STEVENS.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM M. HERTHEL, EDWARD L. MUELLER. 

